NFL: Projected Salary Cap Space for Every Team in the AFC

The 2015 NFL free agency period is scheduled to begin on March 10 at 4:00 P.M. ET. As usual, there will some teams with the salary cap flexibility to be a lot more aggressive than other teams in pursuing the top free agents on the market this offseason. Here is a look at the projected salary cap space for all 16 teams in the AFC.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

All Active Contracts: $115.28 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $2.65 million

Dead Money: $5.47 million

Draft Pool: $3.24 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $29.69 million

The Bills have in-house free agents such as defensive end Jerry Hughes, running back C.J Spiller, and safety Da’Norris Searcy that they will be pressing to re-sign, but not overpay. Without a first round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Bills will be looking to make a splash in free agency by addressing their offensive line issues, adding a wide receiver with size, and adding depth in their secondary. If they are unable to re-sign Spiller, they will also need to add a running back through either the Draft or free agency as well.

Miami Dolphins

All Active Contracts: $154.19 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $7.77 million

Dead Money: $289,209

Draft Pool: $5.13 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $1.93 million

With limited salary cap space available this offseason, it will be hard for the Dolphins to be very active during free agency. They will be looking for impact players in the Draft with an emphasis on wide receivers, linebackers, and cornerbacks.

New England Patriots

All Active Contracts: $152.19

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $6.44 million

Dead Money: $4.62 million

Draft Pool: $4.74 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $-5.05 million

The Patriots will gain a lot of salary cap space if they are able to re-work All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis’ contract. As it stands now, the Patriots have the option to pick up Revis’ contract as is for the 2015 season, but will be facing a $25 million cap hit if they choose to do so. It’s a near certainty that Revis and the Patriots will work out an extension, and at that point they will be able to shift their focus to locking up safety Devin McCourty, kicker Stephen Gostkowski, guard Dan Connolly, and running backs Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley.

New York Jets

All Active Contracts: $105.06 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $12.62 million

Dead Money: $3.59 million

Draft Pool: $6.08 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $48.58 million

The Jets have a lot of needs, but they also have a lot of salary cap space and a top 10 draft pick at their disposal. First and foremost, they desperately need an upgrade at quarterback. After that, the team has holes to fill at cornerback, on the offensive line, and at wide receiver. They appear to be prepared to break the bank for the right players, as recent reports have suggested that the Jets will “roll out the red carpet” for wide receiver Demaryius Thomas if he does not receive the franchise tag and hits the free agent market.

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AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

All Active Contracts: $137.49 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $5.79 million

Dead Money: $9.87 million

Draft Pool: $4.13 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $3.06 million

The Ravens don’t have the salary cap space available to be highly active this offseason, though they could find some cap relief if defensive tackle Haloti Ngata renegotiates his current contract. They will be looking for a way to keep in-house free agents Justin Forsett and Torrey Smith in a Ravens uniform, while also going out and improving at offensive tackle and in their secondary.

Cincinnati Bengals

All Active Contracts: $120.56 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $8.70 million

Dead Money: $449,579

Draft Pool: $4.80 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $34.63 million

The Bengals have a good amount of salary cap space to work with this offseason, but also have multiple impending free agents that they would like to re-sign. Their top in-house targets will include linebackers Rey Maualuga and Emmanuel Lamur, tight end Jermaine Gresham, and guard Clint Boling. They will, however, be looking for outside help to improve on the defensive line, in the secondary, and at linebacker.

Cleveland Browns

All Active Contracts: $116.50 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $18.91 million

Dead Money: $1.89 million

Draft Pool: $7.90 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $48.72 million

The dysfunctional Browns are, for lack of a better word, a mess right now. Fortunately for everyone in Cleveland, the Browns have boatloads of money available to spend in free agency this offseason. To start, they are in need of major help at wide receiver with Josh Gordon facing a year-long suspension. After that, their quarterback position continues to be unsettled and needs to be solidified, their defensive line needs improvement, and lastly, they will need to add another legitimate running back.

Pittsburgh Steelers

All Active Contracts: $138.85

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $778,469

Dead Money: $9.42 million

Draft Pool: $4.71 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $-1.15 million

The Steelers will be focused on improving and getting younger on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. In doing so, there is a good chance that they will choose to release five-time All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu. Their top priorities in the 2015 NFL Draft will include finding a pass rusher, another cornerback, and a safety.

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AFC South

Houston Texans

All Active Contracts: $138.70 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $966,613

Dead Money: $603,593

Draft Pool: $4.93 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $10.94 million

The Texans can get some salary cap relief if they end up reaching an agreement on a restructured deal with wide receiver Andre Johnson, but even if they don’t, they still have the ability to add the pieces they need to make a playoff run in 2015. Their top targets will likely at tight end, quarterback, and defensive tackle.

Indianapolis Colts

All Active Contracts: $112.14

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $7.70 million

Dead Money: $3.64 million

Draft Pool: $4.49 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $37.84 million

The Colts are currently the frontrunners to land running back Frank Gore in free agency, but will also be using their salary cap space to get better on their offensive line and improving their pass rush. There is also a good chance that a significant portion of their salary cap space goes toward a likely massive contract extension for quarterback Andrew Luck.

Jacksonville Jaguars

All Active Contracts: $109.09 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $21.77 million

Dead Money: $1.93 million

Draft Pool: $7.33 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $60.77 million

The Jaguars have a massive amount of salary cap space available this offseason, and multiple holes that they will need to fill if they want to avoid another two or three win season in 2015. They are committed to quarterback Blake Bortles, but will need to improve at wide receiver, tight end, running back, defensive end, and cornerback.

Tennessee Titans

All Active Contracts: $112.78 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $11.25 million

Dead Money: $2.96 million

Draft Pool: $7.49 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $41.46 million

The Titans are another team that have a lot of money to spend this offseason, while also having the second-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. They appear to be committed to Zach Mettenberger at quarterback, which gives them more options with their first round draft pick. They will likely be looking to re-sign in-house free agents such as cornerback Jason McCourtry, defensive end Jurrell Casey, and tight end Delanie Walker before moving into free agency to address needs at outside linebacker, cornerback, and safety.

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AFC West

Denver Broncos

All Active Contracts: $125.67 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $5.87 million

Dead Money: $940,522

Draft Pool: $4.07 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $26.67 million

The Broncos are facing several difficult decisions this offseason. First off, they have to decide on whether or not to re-sign in-house free agents such as defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, safety Rahim Moore, guard Orlando Franklin, and tight end Julius Thomas before moving on to free agency to address needs at linebacker, tight end, and on their offensive line. All-Pro wide receiver Demaryius Thomas appears to be the team’s top priority with the franchise tag being a serious possibility if a long-term contract is not agreed upon by the league-imposed March 2 deadline. Of course, quarterback Peyton Manning could make things a lot easier on the team if he agreed to take a pay cut for the 2015 season.

Kansas City Chiefs

All Active Contracts: $149.87 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $2.25 million

Dead Money: $5.36 million

Draft Pool: $4.89 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $-1.67 million

The Chiefs’ first move this offseason will likely be to restructure the contracts of defensive end Tamba Hali and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, or to release them if they are unable to come to an agreement. After that, their focus will be on locking up outside lineback Justin Houston, one of the best pass rushers in the game.

Oakland Raiders

All Active Contracts: $104.27 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $7.4 million

Dead Money: $916,025

Draft Pool: $7.22 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $49.53 million

The Raiders have a top-five pick, money to spend, and holes to fill this offseason. There are multiple big-name free agents that have been linked to the Raiders in recent weeks, and if new head coach Jack Del Rio and General Manager Reggie McKenzie can convince them that the future is bright in Oakland, the Raiders could very well land multiple big-name free agents this offseason.

San Diego Chargers

All Active Contracts: $122.35 million

2014 Salary Cap Rollover: $1.5 million

Dead Money: $2.10 million

Draft Pool: $4.49 million

Total Salary Cap Space: $25.16 million

The Chargers will likely be very active this offseason in looking for help on their offensive line, at pass rusher, and at tight end. They have the ability with their salary cap space to make a run at signing at least one big-name free agent, and multiple second-tier, impact types of free agents to fill the holes on their roster.